JACOB TWO-TWO
Jacob Two-Two” Meets The Hooded Fang is a story authored by Mordecai Richler for his youngest son also called Jacob. Its popularity spawn three addition books, the final one being completed by Cary Fagan after Mordecai died while writing it. It has also been twice adapted to live action film and to musical theatre.
The first book was illustrated by Fritz Wegner who took a realistic approach. Norman Eyolfson illustrated the next two using a more caricaturist style. Finally, a set of four books: reprints of the first three and publication of the fourth were illustrated by Dušan Petričić and appear to have influenced the animated characterization.
The animated series first appeared September 2003 on YTV, a Corus specialty channel. The series ran for five seasons ending 19 May 2006. It appeared on the French-language network VRAK.TV as Jacob Jacob. In March 2004 the first wo seasons were licensed to Fox Kids Europe for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was produced by Nelvana and Salter Films. Also involved were Funbag, Animation Studios, Atomic Cartoons and Nitrogen Studios. 9 Story Entertainment became a partner for the fifth season. Michael Hirsh was the only Nelvana founding member involved in this project indeed he was the only founding member still at Nelvana and he left in 2002 before “Jacob Two-Two” appeared on television.
The first episode of the series focused on the first book. The second and subsequent episodes then jumped to the school setting and the characters of the third book. Caricatures of the Richler family continued from book to animation. The principal, “I. M. Greedyguts”, and the geography teacher “Miss Sour Pickle” as well as “Perfectly Loathsome Leo Louse” were also taken from the book although in the series “Lothsome Leo’s” role was changed from that of caterer to janitor. The series introduced two new major characters, “Jacob’s” buddy “Burford Orville Gaylord Pugh” and a friend/adversary, the independent, stylish “Renée ‘Rattlesnake’ Ratelle”. From its five-season run, it would appear that the series appealed to youngsters. The several episodes I saw were over the top and fun to watch. However, “Jacob Two-Two” was one of the first, if not the first project Nelvana produced under Corus ownership. Its use of limited animation shows that under this new ownership the emphasis in Nelvana was shifting from producing a quality product to profit.
MEDIUM:
BOOK TEXT:
Content novel & Cover dust jacket, front:
All published by McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang. Writ., M. Richler. Illus., Fritz Wegner. 1975.
Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur. Writ., M. Richler. Illus., Norman Eyolfson. 1987.
Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case. Writ., M. Richler. Illus., Norman Eyolfson. 1995.
Content novel & Cover book front:
All published by Tundra Books
Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang. Writ., M. Richler. Illus., Dušan Petričić. 2009.
Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur. Writ., M. Richler. Illus., Illus., Dušan Petričić. 2009.
Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case. Writ., Mordecai Richler. Illus., Dušan Petričić. 2009.
Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas. Writ., Cary Fagan. Illus., Dušan Petričić. 2009.
ANIMATION:
DVD:
Content serial:
Jacob Two-Two vs The Hooded Fang. Nelvana Ltd., 2003.
“Episode 1: Jacob Two-Two vs the Hooded Fang.”
“Episode 19: Jacob Two-Two and the Tag Team Tempest.”
“Episode 16: Jacob Two-Two and the Lost Louse.”
Jacob Two-Two and the Hockey Card. Nelvana Ltd., 2003.
“Jacob Two-Two and the Furry Felon.”
“Jacob Two-Two and the Purloined Hockey Card.”
“Jacob Two-Two and the Fantastic Fountain.”
SOURCE:
Article newspaper:
The Globe & Mail, 6 September 2003: “Jacob Two-Two meets his cartoon debut”. Writ., Nelson Wyatt:
R18.
Internet:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Two-Two_(TV_series). Accessed 4 October 2024.
GALLERY:
Four interpretations of Jacob Two-Two.
Fritz Wegner’s version. Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang, 1975: Dustjacket.
Norman Eyolfson’s version. Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur, 1987: Dust jacket
Dušan Petričić’s version, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, 2009: Book front cover.
Nelvana’s version, Jacob Two-Two Vs. The Hooded Fang, 2003: DVD cover.
Jacob Two-Two and the Hockey Card, 2003: DVD cover. Left to Right: “Renée ‘Rattlesnake’ Ratelle”, “Jacob Two-Two”, “Burford Orville Gaylord Pugh”, another player in the background.